Imagine our world free of poverty

The world, where basic human security is guaranteed for every citizen. The world, where no one goes to sleep hungry. The world, where one needs not fear the simplest of diseases and destitution that follows. The world, where all children are learning in schools, giving that precious beacon of hope to every parent.

That is a dream we share - you and I. It is a dream we share with more than a billion people living in poverty around the world, and mostly in rural areas. That dream is why we are here today.

But, do we really understand that dream? Do we know poverty? Do we know it, not in numbers or in words, but with our own hunger pains, weakened limbs, and hearts devoid of hope? Do we comprehend a life that makes a landless widow utter:

“This is not life. It is just keeping a body alive.”

The world's focus on poverty reduction is the fruit of the excellence, hard work and dedication by people like you in this conference hall - highly educated professionals and influential leaders. But, we are a minority in this world.

Like all sentient beings, we humans tend to hear what we want to hear, and see the world through our eyes. A lion's share of humanity has neither your education nor your brilliant careers. Many are silent and invisible - unless we strive to hear their voice, and see the world through their eyes.

We need to listen to the voices of the rural poor. And I mean listen deeply. Dare we, as professionals, think about rural poverty reduction without listening to the very people toiling to survive in remote villages? Dare we, as leaders, continue the very exclusion that has blighted their lives too long? We dare not.

And when we do harvest the people's wisdom rooted in the ground reality, we learn one precious lesson. We learn, simply, that it is not what we do, but how we think about what we do, that changes the world.

Bhutan thinks of development as enlightenment. We think of it as a process of economic, social and political transformation, of our people, by the people, for the people.

We think of the development process as one of learning and change - a process in which people choose to gain more control over their destinies; to widen their horizons; to reduce the afflictions of poverty; and to improve the very vitality of life.

We think of a development strategy as a society's own living, dynamic strategy - a strategic framework that is driven by a shared vision; identifies structural barriers to its transformation; selects those who can serve as catalysts for change; and is rooted in a participatory process where people create, revise and strive to realize their vision.

And we think of an outsiders' role, be their governments, NGOs or international agencies like IFAD, as trusted facilitator for the process, invited by the people to serve as a catalyst for change.

Following Mahatma Gandhi's principle with all humility, “I know no diplomacy save that of the truth.” The truth then, is this: If any outsiders - whether governments of NGOs or donors - were to drive the development process of a community, they would merely become part of the problem, instead of part of the solution that they can be.

There are many factors we know about - and many we do not - that reduce poverty. I view quality of leadership, in governments and throughout civil society, as one factor that is of enormous import. Too often, it is left implicit, taken for granted, or simply ignored. We cannot, especially in waging a war against poverty.

Reducing poverty is about sharing tangible and intangible fruits of economic growth equitably. Strategy, policies and actions to achieve it are about changes with winners and losers. This fact challenges people with vested interests in the status quo. It also challenges those with radically different political views about the course or process of change.

Visionary leaders inspire and raise the sights of the people above their lowest common denominator. They help their people see beyond the immediate personal gains or losses to greater opportunities for all. Rapid growth can be achieved without such leaders. Economic history of the world is full of such cases. But, quality growth with equity, redistributing income and wealth as nations grow, cannot be achieved without such leaders' good governance.

Sharing the fruits of growth is also about helping the poor people help themselves. Citizens need to feel that they are truly consulted and that they have participated actively in the process of change. They need to feel convinced that they can honor a consensus, and share deeply in a common vision, strategy and actions. Such a participatory process of change is the only way to secure a sustainable development path.

And so I return to listening. In consulting deeply - especially with those women and men who are marginalized from the mainstream of their society - it is important to listen to their silence. Jelaluddin Rumi, the 13th century poet-saint reminds us:
                        There is a way between voice and presence
where information flows

In disciplined silence it opens.
with wandering talk it closes

Listening to the people's silence means knowing their fear of power and authority, and making a secure space for their empowerment and voice. It means valuing differences as society's wealth, and finding unity in diversity whatever the roots - be they culture, language, race, religion, gender, or simply age. It means listening to and learning from the wisdom of these people, with genuine respect.

Such listening demands humility and tolerance in everyone.  It is especially so, in leaders and the elite who are in the position to influence or steer the change process. In the cultural context of many with power and privilege, these qualities do not visit naturally nor do they always stay for good. Yet, no development process will ever be truly participatory, and thus sustainable, without the humble and tolerant leadership.

I dare say, the world free of poverty will remain a mere dream without the humble and tolerant leadership - leaders of vision and courage, who draw strength from humility, find peace in tolerance, and gain true power by giving it away.

The people of Bhutan have been blessed with such a leadership at the top, who has literally walked every inch of the nation's harsh terrain, sat with the people, shared their meals, and listened to their hearts.

Nearly a century ago, Bhutan's religious and secular leaders chose hereditary monarchy as the nation's political system. They did so, consciously, to put an end to two centuries of political instability.

The present monarch, His Majesty the King Jigme Singye Wanchuck, has been the fountainhead of the vision, values and policies guiding the nation's social, economic and political transformation for well over three decades. From the very outset, happiness of the people has been the singular and explicit policy outcome sought. Everything else, including greater income and wealth, has been a means to enable this end.

Enunciated by His Majesty as “Gross National Happiness,” this philosophy for public policy was not imposed from the top, but harvested by listening deeply to the people. You would surely agree that happiness is a shared desire of every human being. It is possibly the ultimate thing we want, while all other things are wanted only as means to its increase.

“Gross National Happiness” places happiness of the sovereign people at the core of our national security strategy. Unhappy people make an unstable nation. Secure nation is a country whose citizens are proud to call it their home. The singular purpose of public policy and institutions is to remove all public obstacles and enable citizens to pursue individual happiness. Five-year development plans - along with the planning process, associated policies, implementation and outcome evaluation - strive to balance the people's satisfaction of material and non-material needs, and their emotional and spiritual growth.

Gross National Happiness has also meant that future course of the nation must be the people's own choice. It has driven a gradual but steady change in Bhutan's political system, learning as we go over many decades. This process of change has recently culminated as a draft Constitution that is to enshrine a constitutional monarch and a two-party parliamentary democracy. The draft Constitution was distributed to the people, and the King and the Crown Prince are traveling throughout the country, engaged in a series of consultation meetings to listen to the people's views.

Bhutan wants to be part of the dream of the world without poverty. We imagine a world where humanity is secure in the knowledge that everyone has an equal opportunity pursue individual happiness. We imagine a world where all leaders think differently about what they do, and focus - singularly, seriously, and steadfastly - to remove public obstacles that prevent their people's pursuit of happiness.

It is in this context that Bhutan remains resolute in its commitment to IFAD, and appreciates its valuable contributions to our nation building. It is also in this context that Bhutan has adopted a holistic approach known as the Triple Gem, looking at our fight against rural poverty through the people's eyes, and integrating production, access and marketing throughout our agriculture programmes.

Ghandi once said this to a gathering of scientists: “Unless all the discoveries that you make have the welfare of the poor as the end in view, all your workshops will be really no better than Satan's.”

Throughout the coming days of this gathering, indeed, I ask that you hold close to your heart your own image of that landless widow who despaired, “This is not life. It is just keeping a body alive”. And, in all your deliberations, I ask that you not focus on what you do, but be open to the grass-roots wisdom, and invite such wisdom to change how you think about what you do.
In end my address with an apt passage from the Koran: “Verily never will God change the condition of a people until they change it themselves, with their own souls...”

I wish you all fruitful, and very different, deliberations! Tashi Delek!